# Find the intercepts

#### shamieh

##### Active member
Find the intercepts.

How do I find the y intercept?
$$\displaystyle \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x + 1}}$$

the x is easy I just plug in a 0.

for the y intercept what are the rules...It's like if the exponent is bigger than the bottom exponent then = undefined?? and if its the same you look at the coefficient and if it's smaller exponent/bigger exponent= 0?

#### Jameson

Staff member
You have it backwards actually. To find the y-intercept you plug in 0 for x and solve. To find the x-intercept you plug in 0 for y and solve.

So you'll get two equations:

(1) $$\displaystyle 0 = \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x + 1}}$$

(2) $$\displaystyle y=\frac{0^2}{0+1}$$

Which one is which?

#### shamieh

##### Active member
okay so y = 0..

so how do I find the x... I say x^2 = 0 and then x = 0 ? Oh I think I see now!

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Jameson, since this is relating to the same problem...What about Vertical Asymptote and Horizontal Asymptotes?

for Vertical asymptote I would just set the denominator to zero correct?

x + 1 = 0 which means x = - 1 for V.A.

then for the horizontal asymptote how do I find it? if the exponent in the numerator is larger than the exponent in the denominator it would mean that it is undefined therefore being no Horizontal Asymptote? Am I Correct in saying this?